9/11 Widow Meets Woman Her Husband Rescued 20 Years Later: 'She's the Last Person with Him'
A photograph of her husband rescuing a woman during 9/11 has kept a widow going since he died on that fateful day 20 years ago. She always wondered what happened to the woman, and she finally got her answer.
Jaime Amoroso said her vows to a police officer, Christopher Charles Amoroso, in November of 1999. The happy couple welcomed a daughter and never imagined their lives would turn upside down on a morning in September 2001.
Jaime recalls the morning her husband lost his life and remembered telling him to be careful. She said: "He left, and he said I'm working at the World Trade Center."
Police officer helps a woman get away from the dangerous events unfolding during the 9/11 terror attacks | Photo: Twitter/PAPD911 & Getty Images
HIS FINAL HOURS
Neither of them knew that would be their last conversation. "I knew when the second tower fell. I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be good." Jaime expressed.
The widow described her husband as a man who loved his job. While she could not say goodbye to him, she did get a glimpse of her husband during his final hours.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WOMAN?
Daily News photographer Todd Maisel managed to take a picture of Christopher as he helped a woman move away from the danger and burning towers.
Jaime said it was both good and bad to have received the photo. While it was proof that he was a hero, it was also bittersweet. The widow always wondered what had happened to the woman in the photo.
NOT SURE IF SHE SURVIVED
She said that almost two decades had passed, and she still had not heard anything from the mystery woman. She often thought about her and whether she survived the ordeal.
Jaime said:
"As time went on, I started to think maybe he didn't save her or get her far enough because we had never found her or had anybody ever spoken to her."
SOCIAL MEDIA HELPED FIND THE WOMAN
Attempts to find the woman remained unsuccessful until one of the thousands of social media tributes helped solve the mystery. It was just before the 20th anniversary of the attacks that someone said the woman was their mother.
The commenter said: "That woman Officer Amoroso is seen helping in this photo is my mother, Suman Dhamija." They explained that she had asthma, so the smoke and debris prevented her from breathing.
SAVED HER LIFE
The commenter continued by providing more details about how the tragic day unfolded and shared that the encounter between the police officer and the terrified mother saved her life.
They said:
"Officer Amoroso helped lift her up and walk away from the towers. This photo was taken before the 2nd tower collapsed."
THE WOMAN FROM THE PICTURE
Dhamija, who now lives in India, was an employee in the Twin Towers during 9/11. She recalled her encounter with the policeman and stated: "He said, 'Ma'am, relax. We are here to help."
She explained that she would not have made it if it wasn't for him. Dhamija lights a candle for him on the anniversary of the attack every year.
MEETING HIS WIFE
Jaime was overcome with emotion when she heard from the woman in the photo. The two of them could "meet" via video call, which meant the world to Jaime.
She said:
"I can't believe she's alive. She's the last person with him. He went in with a purpose, to want to save as many people as possible."
THE PHOTOGRAPHER CHERISHES THE MEMORY
The photographer said: "I know every detail. I remember it all like it was yesterday. [Amoroso] was one of the first officers I saw. [The woman] was in distress, and Chris was determined to help her."
Maisel shared that he will never forget the selfless actions he saw on 9/11. After all these years, he still keeps a box with the photos from that day.
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